THE decision by President Bharrat Jagdeo to suspend the licence of Chandra Narine Sharma, CNS television for four months is a right one. Sharma has shown total disregard for the people of this country with some of his television programmes.

Sharma on his Voice of the People programme has always singled out the President for personal attacks. Callers usually slander the President and his Ministers on this programme, and I think enough was enough.

Sharma refused over the years to act responsibly.

Sharma’s attitude against the President was fully exposed when he repeated the programme that caused his demise four times without even editing it. As a top television station owner in Guyana, Sharma should have known better and that repeating the programme would have led to suspension of his licence to operate.

I think he should thank his lucky stars for not being taken off the air completely.

Today all media houses, both print and electronic enjoy full freedom unlike in the past when press freedom was suppressed. But press freedom does not give one the right to slander, make death threats, incite violence or promote race hate. We all know what a television station did in Rwanda where over eight hundred thousand people were massacred.

As expected opposition political parties, the Guyana Human Rights Association, Trade Unionists and other non-governmental organisations came out in support of Sharma, but they have a political agenda and decided to jump on Sharma’s bandwagon.

Under the present government, press freedom is enjoyed by all. The press however, must act responsibly in the interest of all the people of Guyana.
BALDEO PERSAUD